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MUSICIAN’S FRIEND NAMES GENE JOLY TO
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF MERCHANDISING

MEDFORD, OR, September 28, 2005 — Musician’s Friend, the world’s foremost direct mail and e-commerce musical instrument and professional audio supplier, has appointed Gene Joly as Senior Vice President of Merchandising. The announcement was made by Craig Johnson, Musician’s Friend Executive Vice President of Merchandising and Marketing, and supports the Company’s ongoing position as the largest direct response retailer of musical instruments / pro audio products in the U.S.

Effective immediately, Gene Joly assumes responsibility for all merchandising functions at Musician’s Friend. In his position as Senior Vice President of Merchandising, Joly will lead the continual development of merchandising strategies, product assortments and promotional plans to support company sales and marketing efforts. In addition, he will focus on vendor and supplier relations, along with guiding the Musician’s Friend buying teams with product development, assortment planning and category expansion activities.

Joly gathered expertise in these areas during his recent role as Senior Vice President / Technology Merchandise Manager for Guitar Center. He has also accumulated a wealth of knowledge and experience working in both retail and manufacturing for the M.I. / Pro Audio industry over the past 30 years.

Craig Johnson commented, “Gene brings great new ideas and an inspiring approach to our merchandising operations at Musician’s Friend. He has a thorough understanding of our customer base as well as technology, and is committed to keeping ahead of the pace in today’s music product marketplace.” Johnson continued, “Customers count on Musician’s Friend to deliver the latest gear and information and our business partners depend on efficient and mutually rewarding operations. Gene has the skills, dedication and insight that are key to ensuring we meet these needs consistently.”

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About Musician’s Friend
Musician’s Friend, Inc., is the largest direct response retailer of musical instruments in the U.S. Through marketing and merchandising music products in their catalog and on their web site, www.musiciansfriend.com, the Company offers consumers a complete selection of string, fretted, band and orchestra instruments, sound reinforcement and recording equipment, drums, keyboards, and associated musical accessories. In addition to corporate offices based in Medford, Oregon, Musician’s Friend maintains a contact center/customer service operation based in Draper, Utah (a suburb of Salt Lake City), and a state-of-the-art distribution center in Kansas City, Missouri.

Musician’s Friend is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guitar Center, the nation’s leading retailer of guitars, amplifiers, percussion instruments, keyboards, live-sound/DJ and recording equipment. Other brand or product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

 

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